Mirusuvil massacre inquiry put off

[TamilNet, Monday, 17 February 2003, 18:50 GMT]The inquiry into the Mirusuvil massacre case was put off for February 19 as the prison officials reported to the Trial-at-Bar Monday that the fourth accused has fallen ill, legal sources said. The three-member bench of the High Court comprising of Judges Mr.I.M.Imam (President), Mr.Sarath Ambepitya and Mr. Kumar Ekaratne are due to hear the case.

The Mirusuvil massacre case was taken up for trial Monday to record the evidence of the overnight witness Ponnuthurai Maheswaran who is the sole survivor in the Mirusuvil massacre.

The prison officials informed the Trial-at-Bar that the fourth accused S.A.Pushpa Saman Kumara was not brought to court as he was suffering from chickenpox.

The court instructed the prison officials to submit a medical report from the Judicial Medical Officer on the next date informing the condition of the fourth accused and how long it will take the fourth accused recover and to attend court, legal sources said.

Fifty-six witnesses were listed to give evidence and 35 items are to be produced as evidence during the trial, court sources said.

The court ordered prison officials to provide medical facilities and food at the proper time to the accused in prison when the defence counsel Mr.Anil Silva complained that the accused was not provided with proper food and medical facilities.

In this case the Attorney General has indicted five Sri Lanka Army soldiers on nineteen counts, including unlawful assembly with common intention to cause injury and murder of eight Tamil civilians on December 19, 2000 at Mirusuvil.

Senior State Counsel Mr.Sarath Jayamanne with State Counsel Mr. Madhawa Tennekon and Mr. Navaretna Marasinghe appeared for the prosecution. Counsel Mr.Anil Silva appeared for the accused. Counsel Mr.K.S.Ratnavelu and Mr.K.Shanmugalingam watched the interest of the relatives of the victims.